Author: Wade Flavion

MADISON- Wisconsin Football announced on Wednesday that because of rising cases of COVID-19 on the team, they would be entering a shutdown of team facilities for the next seven days. The shutdown will include the upcoming matchup on Saturday between the eighth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

This is following reported positive tests for COVID-19 from starting quarterback Graham Mertz and his backup Chase Wolf over the weekend from Jeff Potrykus of the Miwaukee Journal Sentinel. The only confirmed positive test for COVID-19 on the team is of head coach Paul Chryst because of the Big Ten's privacy rules for individual players.  

Per the Big Ten protocol, both Mertz and Wolf will miss at least 21 days from their first positive test, which means that both quarterbacks will miss at least the Purdue game. Since Mertz and Wolf are likely out for the game against the Boilermakers, third-string quarterback Danny Vanden Boom will be next in line to lead the Wisconsin offense. Mertz's first positive test was reported to have been on Saturday, so he may able to return for Wisconsin's matchup against the 14th-ranked Michigan Wolverines on November 14th.  

In addition to being out for at least 21 days, players that test positive will have to get approval from a cardiologist before they will be allowed to return to action per Big Ten protocol. 

Wisconsin Football will reevaluate the reopening of facilities over the next week in cooperation with the Big Ten, but if cases continue to rise on the team, the Badgers may have to cancel next week's game against the Purdue Boilermakers on November 7th.